Plouffe and Amal too That is why she is our not friend Today Amal is sitting at our desk cluster but Maizy Durand is not She is sitting in another desk cluster Maybe that’s the surprise I whisper That would be worth a homework assignment We sit down at our usual desks Why is Maizy Durand sitting over there Mirabel Plouffe asks Amal Amal shrugs She was there when I came in I do not want to ask her about it I do not want her to change her mind and move back We all laugh quietly But not quietly enough because Maizy Durand looks up at us and scowls It is not fair that everyone else gets to stay in their original assigned seats She opens her notebook But at least now I will not have to listen to you three whisper about annoying things all day long
Did Mademoiselle Bennett ask you to move asks Mirabel Plouffe She said she has a surprise and some kind of special assignment for you three She needed an empty desk in your group Maizy Durand picks up her pen Now please excuse me I am looking forward to you not distracting me in class for once She sticks out her tongue at me Amal and Mirabel Plouffe Then she begins writing in her notebook The surprise is a special assignment says Mirabel Plouffe Her face is pink with excitement Maybe it is going to be some kind of projet d’art Amal says She draws a tiny paintbrush and palette in a corner on the top of her notebook page Amal is an artist Mademoiselle Bennett appears at the front of the classroom There is a boy with messy blond hair next to her He is looking at his shoes
Bonjour everyone says Mademoiselle Bennett She is smiling even bigger than usual She tucks a couple of frizzy brown curls behind her ears and adjusts her orange glasses I told you I had a big surprise for you today And here he is Please say bonjour to my nephew Roger The whole class says Bonjour Roger Roger looks up for a second He nods What’s up Then he looks back down at his shoes Roger is an American Just like me and Mademoiselle Bennett This is a great surprise
Two MADEMOISELLE BENNETT IS AN AMERICAN TOO Mademoiselle Mademoiselle Bennett guides Roger over to our desk cluster Girls she says I hope you don’t mind I moved Maizy I thought the three of you would be excellent seatmates for Roger Would you mind showing him around We would be honored says Mirabel Plouffe And she looks honored She is kind of fanning herself with her hand She doesn’t even seem upset that we didn’t get a real assignment I’m Winicker I say to Roger Hey says Roger Aunt Benny told me you’re an American too I am I try to think of something really American to say I like baseball
